Next has cut sick pay for unvaccinated staff who must self-isolate because of Covid exposure, the BBC has learned.

Unvaccinated staff will still get full sick pay if they test positive for the virus.

The retailer's move follows a similar one by Ikea. Next acknowledged it was an "emotive topic" but said it had to balance staff and shareholder needs.

It comes as employers face mass absences due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

It is unclear when Next made the change but it is believed to have been recent.

Unvaccinated workers at the retailer who test positive are still being paid in full for the time they need off. Next currently pays store sales consultants and stock assistants between 6.55 and 9.21 an hour and warehouse operatives between 9.30 and 11.26 an hour.

But unvaccinated workers who are required to isolate having been identified as a close contact of someone with Covid could now receive as little as 96.35 a week - the Statutory Sick Pay minimum - unless there are mitigating circumstances.

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Last month, official self-isolation guidance was relaxed for people who have been jabbed, meaning they do not need to isolate if they have been exposed to a positive case.

But there was no change to the guidance for unvaccinated close contacts, who must still self-isolate for 10 full days after...

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